The Government has taken a first step towards the introduction of a deposit return scheme for drinks bottles in England - with a view to tackling plastic pollution in the world's oceans.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed the Government is working with the industry to see how a "reward and return" scheme could work.

Over the next four weeks, individuals and organisations are being invited to tell ministers how such an initiative - where a small charge is returned to customers for each bottle they recycle - might reduce levels of pollution.

Video:Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign so far

The evidence submitted will be looked at as part of the Government's strategy to tackle litter, and will involve industry giants Coca Cola and Tesco.

A working group will report on their findings early in the New Year.

More than eight million tons of plastic are dumped in the world's oceans every year, putting marine wildlife under serious threat.

Successful deposit return schemes have already been introduced in several European countries including Denmark, where 90% of bottles are returned for recycling.

Video:How do deposit return schemes work?

In England, just 57% of plastic bottles sold last year were collected for recycling.

Mr Gove said: "We must protect our oceans and marine life from plastic waste if we are to be the first generation to leave our environment in a better state than we found it.

"That means tackling the rise in plastic bottles entering our waters by making it simpler and easier to recycle and dispose of them appropriately."

Image:Michael Gove announced the move at the Conservative Party conference

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference, Mr Gove expressed hope that such a scheme would add to the progress already made "by significantly reducing plastic bag use and drawing up one of the world's toughest bans on microbeads".